DURHAM, N.C. – As the 2012 WNBA season tips on Friday, May 18, a total of seven former Duke women’s basketball standouts will suit up on five different teams -- Alana Beard (Los Angeles), Monique Currie (Washington), Jasmine Thomas (Washington), Karima Christmas (Tulsa), Chante Black (Tulsa), Lindsey Harding (Atlanta), Mistie (Bass) Mims (Connecticut).
The seven Duke alums ranks tied for third most active WNBA players from a collegiate program -- Connecticut (11), Tennessee (10), Duke (7), Rutgers (7), Stanford (6), North Carolina (5), Maryland (4) and Ohio State (4).
The season will get rolling on Friday as Los Angeles will travel to Seattle for an 10:00 p.m., contest on NBA TV. The first contest for Washington will be on Saturday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m., at home against Chicago, while Atlanta will travel to Indiana on Saturday as well for a 7:00 p.m., tip. Tulsa will tip at 8:00 p.m., on Saturday versus San Antonio on FSSW TV. Finally, Connecticut opens on Saturday at New York with a 4:00 p.m., tip on the MSG Network.
Two Blue Devils -- Currie and Thomas -- made the 11-person roster for the Mystics. Currie, who missed most of the 2011 campaign recovering from ACL surgery, saw action in only two contests but averaged 15.5 points in those games. She was a 2010 WNBA All-Star.
Thomas, who was the No. 12 selection in the 2011 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm, was traded to the Mystics following draft day. She averaged 6.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 34 contests a year ago for Washington.
Christmas was the No. 23 selection by Washington in the 2011 draft, but was later picked up by Tulsa.
She saw action in 17 games for the Shock a year ago averaging 3.2 points and 1.2 rebounds. Christmas is coming off an offseason campaign in Israel where she averaged 20.0 points and 10.3 rebounds.
After appearing in her first All-Star game in 2010, Harding enters her sixth year in the WNBA and her second straight season with the Atlanta Dream. She averaged 10.8 points, 4.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals last season with the Dream. Harding was the No. 1 pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft.
Mims, a 2006 Duke graduate and former second round pick, returns to the WNBA in 2012 with the Connecticut Sun. She last played for the Chicago Sky in 2010 averaging 4.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists. Mims started 20 of 34 games for the Sky.
Black also returns to the WNBA this season and will play for the Tulsa Shock. A 2008 Duke graduate, Black last averaged 5.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for the Shock two years ago.
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The seven Duke alums ranks tied for third most active WNBA players from a collegiate program -- Connecticut (11), Tennessee (10), Duke (7), Rutgers (7), Stanford (6), North Carolina (5), Maryland (4) and Ohio State (4).
The season will get rolling on Friday as Los Angeles will travel to Seattle for an 10:00 p.m., contest on NBA TV. The first contest for Washington will be on Saturday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m., at home against Chicago, while Atlanta will travel to Indiana on Saturday as well for a 7:00 p.m., tip. Tulsa will tip at 8:00 p.m., on Saturday versus San Antonio on FSSW TV. Finally, Connecticut opens on Saturday at New York with a 4:00 p.m., tip on the MSG Network.
Two Blue Devils -- Currie and Thomas -- made the 11-person roster for the Mystics. Currie, who missed most of the 2011 campaign recovering from ACL surgery, saw action in only two contests but averaged 15.5 points in those games. She was a 2010 WNBA All-Star.
Thomas, who was the No. 12 selection in the 2011 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm, was traded to the Mystics following draft day. She averaged 6.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 34 contests a year ago for Washington.
Christmas was the No. 23 selection by Washington in the 2011 draft, but was later picked up by Tulsa.
She saw action in 17 games for the Shock a year ago averaging 3.2 points and 1.2 rebounds. Christmas is coming off an offseason campaign in Israel where she averaged 20.0 points and 10.3 rebounds.
After appearing in her first All-Star game in 2010, Harding enters her sixth year in the WNBA and her second straight season with the Atlanta Dream. She averaged 10.8 points, 4.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals last season with the Dream. Harding was the No. 1 pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft.
Mims, a 2006 Duke graduate and former second round pick, returns to the WNBA in 2012 with the Connecticut Sun. She last played for the Chicago Sky in 2010 averaging 4.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists. Mims started 20 of 34 games for the Sky.
Black also returns to the WNBA this season and will play for the Tulsa Shock. A 2008 Duke graduate, Black last averaged 5.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for the Shock two years ago.
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